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Photo Credit: Egzorcysta Magazine

In a tough economy, it’s encouraging to see any business or enterprise describe itself as “booming,” but, in Poland, one of the primary sectors that is experiencing exponential growth may raise some eyebrows — Catholic exorcisms.

In an effort to capitalize on ever-growing acts to dispel demons, Polish priests are teaming up with publishers to create the world’s first, monthly expulsion-themed magazine.

Called “Egzorcysta,” the publication officially launched this past Monday. Its first issue, which includes 62 pages of content, has articles entitled, “New Age — the Spiritual Vacuum Cleaner” and “Satan Is Real,” among others. The magazine, which will cost the equivalent of $3.10 per copy, has a print run of 15,000 to start.

During the launch press event in Warsaw, Father Aleksander Posacki, a professor of philosophy, theology and a leading demonologist and exorcist, explained why he believes the nation is experiencing an uptick in demonic activity.

“The rise in the number or exorcists from four to more than 120 over the course of 15 years in Poland is telling,” he said, going on to blame the increase in possessions on the switch from atheist communism to capitalism — an event that unfolded back in 1989.

“It’s indirectly due to changes in the system: capitalism creates more opportunities to do business in the area of occultism. Fortune telling has even been categorised as employment for taxation,” Posacki continued in an interview with AFP.

According to the faith leader and demon-caster-outer, the fact that people can profit from the occult increases spiritual harm. The more activity that unfolds, the more likely it is, at least in Posacki’s view, that demonic activity will also multiply.

“Possession comes as a result of committing evil,” he also explained. “Stealing, killing and other sins.”

To chase the spirits away, faith leaders rely upon ritual prayers that were approved by Pope John Paul II back in 1999. They also team up with psychiatrists to ensure that they aren’t mistaking mental illness for possession, as the two sometimes share similar attributes.

Posacki described actual possession as involving “screams, shouting, anger, rage [and] threats” — all elements that are typically depicted in Hollywood depictions. Now, the Polish public won’t have to rely upon fictional re-creations, as the magazine will highlight the purported real-life events each month.